Justin Michael Back, an 18-year-old male from Waynesville, Ohio, was tragically murdered on January 28, 2014. Back, who was about to join the Navy, was killed by Austin Gregory Myers and Timothy E. Mosley, both of whom were childhood friends of Back. The two young men broke into Back's family home with the intention of stealing a safe they believed contained around $20,000.
The murder was premeditated.
Myers and Mosley planned to strangle Back with a homemade garrote, but when their initial plan failed, they resorted to stabbing him a total of 21 times. After killing Back, they searched for the safe but found it in a closet. The case received national media attention due to the brutality of the crime and the discrepancy in the sentencing of the two young offenders.
Myers and Mosley were both convicted of the murder. Myers received a life sentence without the possibility of parole, while Mosley was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole after 30 years. The case highlighted issues within the juvenile justice system and sparked discussions about the appropriate sentencing for young offenders.
Back's family has since worked to keep his memory alive, setting up a scholarship and a 5K run in his honor. Despite the tragedy, they strive to honor Back's legacy and promote positive change in the community.
